LOWER adoption fees at the Goulburn Companion Animal Facility (CAF) has the council’s ranger staff optimistic for the homing of impounded animals.
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Updated fees, influenced by an amendment to the Companion Animal Registration Fees Regulation, came into effect on October 29.
Residents will benefit from a $28 discount on rescue pets, just in time for Christmas.
De-sexed dogs and cats will sell for $154 and $104; still to be de-sexed, $254 and $174 respectively.
All animals adopted from the facility are desexed, vaccinated, vet-checked, wormed, microchipped and lifetime registered.
“Animals that have ended up in here, they deserve a second chance.
That’s why we really encourage people to attend the facility and consider adopting an animal from us,” said ranger services coordinator Jemma Reid.
There are 13 dogs and nine cats presently housed in the Ross St facility; among that number are litters of kittens as young as seven weeks old.
“This is Little One,” Ms Reid said of a small tabby-esque kitten.
“He was found by himself at the Police Driver Training Centre ... we will take care of him until he is a healthy weight to be adopted.”
Under legislation, rangers must house microchipped dogs and cats for 14 days, and non-microchipped animals for seven days, before they are listed for adoption, to help reunite them with their owners.
People who want to adopt any animal from the CAF are required to visit the facility first.
But, in a project to launch in the New Year, Ms Reid said a Goulburn Mulwaree Council website portal would list photos and details of each orphaned animal at the CAF.
“That’s one of my projects on the horizon,” she said.
“I know it’s been spoken about before, but we’ve had some changes in our team and we just needed the resources to be able to do something like this.
“I’m looking at implementing a link on the council website, which then showcases all the animals that we will have up for adoption, hopefully in the New Year.”
Animals not adopted within the above timeframes are then referred to animal welfare organisations.
“We work closely with two rescue groups in the ACT (Canberra Pooch Rescue and ACT Rescue and Foster) that have foster carers in contact with us every week,” Ms Reid said.
“Those working relationships have benefited the facility greatly.”
Opening hours at the Ross St facility are: weekdays, 8am-9am, 12.30- 1.30pm and 4-4.30pm; Saturday, 8.30-9.30am.
For more information on the CAF, see goulburn.nsw.gov.au.